Ratel exhibit at Howletts, 31/07/10

Home to the long-term resident female and the male from Edinburgh, both of whom were very active throughout the afternoon.

Nice to see a pair together in this enclosure again. Do you think there's any chance they can breed or is the female too old- any idea how old she is?

I don't know exactly but she's visibly old compared to Tyson. I would have thought breeding is a long shot, but if it gets the male used to female company then maybe they'll be able to bring in a new female for him eventually.

Maguari said:

I don't know exactly but she's visibly old compared to Tyson.

Click to expand...

My guess would be she's the one in the foreground then in this photo.

Yes - in the flesh she's not only smaller (a gender difference rather than age, I think) but her fur is less sleek and her movement rather less smooth and energetic.

I saw them a couple of days ago. The male was trotting around, while the female was slumped on the ground fast asleep. Another visitor asked me 'Is that one dead?' and it wasn't a silly question!
Later in the day she was pacing a bit, while he was sleeping out of sight.

Alan